Perl certainly has many virtues worth extolling and most of us have felt the need to sing its praises at one time or another. Doing so in this forum is relatively safe as you won't get much resistance. You are, as the saying goes, "preaching to the choir."

That's not the case everywhere though and, as with operating systems, editors, window managers, and programming methodologies, every language has its followers. On Usenet or IRC, language fanaticism leads to little more than a good, hearty, old-fashioned, flame war. In a professional atmosphere, it might cost you a contract or a job.

I think it is prudent to caution novices not to get too wrapped up in a language's strengths without also making an effort to understand that language's weaknesses. Knowledge of both will help you choose the right tools, write better programs, be a more effective advocate, and win (or at least survive) more flame wars.

Edit: I meant "preaching to the choir" not "singing to the choir." Changed.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";